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Wambach's double leads USA to Peace Queen final
The U.S. Women's National Team earned a place in the championship game of the 2008 Peace Queen Cup with a 2-0 victory over Italy as Abby Wambach scored goals in the 41st and 51st minutes.
The win sealed the top spot in Group B for the Americans, who will face Group A winner Canada on June 21 in a rematch of the 2006 championship game that saw the United States claim a 1-0 victory on a goal from Kristine Lilly.
The Americans controlled the possession in most of the match but they dodged an early bullet just 10 minutes into the game when Pamela Conti squeezed past the U.S. back line on a high bouncing ball and fired a free volley at net, but U.S. goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart flew to her left to push it outside the post.
The USA got on the board four minutes before halftime as left back Stephanie Cox sent a long ball down the wing to Wambach, who collected smoothly and turned toward goal. She rounded Italian defender Viviana Schiavi to the end line and then dribbled straight at the near post. With the Italian defense in disarray, Wambach struck a hard left-footed shot from just off the end line and through the legs of goalkeeper Anna Picarelli.
Wambach then doubled her tally shortly after the restart, this time finding Giulia Perelli as her victim.
Wambach jumped over the Italian defender to meet a driven corner kick from Carli Lloyd and smashed a header into the goal from five yards out, taking her career goal total to 98.
The USA will now play in its fourth tournament final of the year on Saturday. The USA downed China in the championship of the Four Nations Tournament in January, defeated Denmark for the Algarve Cup title in March and triumphed over Canada in penalty kicks in the final of CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying in April.
The U.S. Women's National Team earned a place in the championship game of the 2008 Peace Queen Cup with a 2-0 victory over Italy as Abby Wambach scored goals in the 41st and 51st minutes.
The win sealed the top spot in Group B for the Americans, who will face Group A winner Canada on June 21 in a rematch of the 2006 championship game that saw the United States claim a 1-0 victory on a goal from Kristine Lilly.
The Americans controlled the possession in most of the match but they dodged an early bullet just 10 minutes into the game when Pamela Conti squeezed past the U.S. back line on a high bouncing ball and fired a free volley at net, but U.S. goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart flew to her left to push it outside the post.
The USA got on the board four minutes before halftime as left back Stephanie Cox sent a long ball down the wing to Wambach, who collected smoothly and turned toward goal. She rounded Italian defender Viviana Schiavi to the end line and then dribbled straight at the near post. With the Italian defense in disarray, Wambach struck a hard left-footed shot from just off the end line and through the legs of goalkeeper Anna Picarelli.
Wambach then doubled her tally shortly after the restart, this time finding Giulia Perelli as her victim.
Wambach jumped over the Italian defender to meet a driven corner kick from Carli Lloyd and smashed a header into the goal from five yards out, taking her career goal total to 98.
The USA will now play in its fourth tournament final of the year on Saturday. The USA downed China in the championship of the Four Nations Tournament in January, defeated Denmark for the Algarve Cup title in March and triumphed over Canada in penalty kicks in the final of CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying in April.
